New SIC chief executive Alistair Buchan came face to face with all councillors this week for the first time since taking up the post for what he described as “very positive” initial discussions about how to react to major criticisms in the Accounts Commission’s recent report on the local authority.

Multiple Grammy winner Steve Earle, the outspoken singer-song­writer responsible for a host of classic Americana songs including Copperhead Road, Guitar Town and Galway Girl, will be stopping off in Lerwick next Thursday for a re-arranged show at Clickimin.

The foundation of a new pilot scheme designed to subsidise home ownership for first-time buyers in the isles who are on low incomes was approved by councillors today.

SIC housing chief Chris Medley has stressed the local authority is doing all it can to alleviate homelessness after Shelter Scotland said its progress towards meeting a 2012 commitment is “simply unacceptable”.

Secondary school pupils in the isles will not be moved to a brand new £50 million school in Lerwick for at least seven years, according to the latest estimate from Shetland Islands Council as it kicks off a six-week consultation process on the project.

Two thirds of Shetland Charitable Trust’s trustees should be independently elected and only three should be SIC members. That is the view of John Scott, one of the trust’s two non-councillor trustees, who is trying to reignite the debate about how to implement reform in the wake of renewed criticism of the relationship between the council and the £200 million community fund.

Councillors have sprung to the defence of SIC head of finance Graham Johnston after he came in for flak in last week’s scathing report from the Accounts Com­mission.

Environmental and animal welfare agencies are carrying out an investigation into the deaths of thousands of fully-grown salmon at a fish farm on the West Side earlier this month.

Council house tenants who mindlessly vandalise the homes they are staying in ought to be living in caves, according to outspoken South Mainland councillor Allison Duncan.

Shetland-based writers Jen Hadfield and Donald S Murray are to appear at the Edinburgh Book Festival later this month.